The killing of four Israeli settlers in the West Bank city of Hebron by Hamas gunmen raises the stakes and is designed to enflame into action Israeli hotheads.
This 'heroic operation' which saw four (unarmed) people in a car murdered shows exactly what the game is. We have voices which enflame and actions that encourage retaliation such that the conflict will continue, niggling away, until one side emerges triumphant.
Power is cut of by the Israelis and people die in Palestine. Rockets are fired to wind up the Israelis and get them to act wrongly and, of course, the Israelis never disappoint. Ships are stopped from bringing in certified relief and people are Palestinians react in the way Israel hopes they will. And, once again, Hamas never disappoints either.
In the death of one unborn innocent (one of the victims was pregnant) and four people the whole madness is brought, once again, into sharp focus.
The truth is that there are many Palestinians who oppose Abbas holding peace talks with Israel and Netanyahu has the same in reverse regarding Palestine and his freeze on building new settlements.
The only glimmer of hope is by the support that is growing for Netanyahu's position on settlements by some. The latest of these, following on from the art and acting world, being the academics from the West bank who have ceased working in settlements as a recognition of the damage the settlement building programmes has done to any potential peace in the region.
The building of settlements the other side of the 'green line' is one of the most provocative and damaging acts israel engages in and this must be addressed. International law has said that this building and settling is illegal and yet, as ever, Israel flaunts international law and continues to do as it pleases.
Prayer must be the only answer here because logic and generosity don't seem to be a feature of this sad and sorry saga.
And what, O Israel does the LORD require of you?
Justice
Mercy
Humility
5 comments:
Vic, I just noticed this linked from another blog and want to comment.
I think your take on the situation ignores several facts.
To say that "rockets are fired to wind up the Israelis" is out of order. The rockets have killed a good number of people and terrorised a far more. In Sderot, the town worst affected by the rockets, a significant proportion of the population suffers from mental health problems as a result.
Hamas is a recognised terrorist organisation that does not accept the existence of a Jewish state. Its charter calls for the murder of all Jews. Yes, the rockets are also designed to force Israel's hand, but the aim is still the same - the destruction of Israel.
Your reference to the recent flotilla is again misleading. The Israelis permitted the ships to dock at Ashkelon and they trucked the aid to Gaza. They're not prepared to let ships go directly their because of the very real risk of weapons smuggling. The Mavi Marmara was a deliberate provocation by terrorists. Incidentally, the recent BBC programme about this found that a lot of the aid was out-of-date, and there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
As far as the settlements go, the legal situation isn't as clear as you suggest, and there is a strong view that Israel is entitled to build and settle on the whole of its territory, including the West Bank and Gaza.
But, ultimately, your piece shows a strong anti-Israel bias and is therefore very disappointing from a clergyman. Have you thought to contact, for example, Christian Friends of Israel (www.cfi.org.uk), to see how they understand the situation?
Sorry Mark,
I would have to disagree. I am not in favour of any one side but do see that the blame lies fairly equally (almost) with both parties.
You appear to ignore the reality that Israel continues to ignore international law on so many issue.
The reality is that the rocket firing is provocation (and retaliation) and seeks to elicit a response (which the Israelis are never loathe to give) that will win them popular support.
As far as settlements go - the situation is as clear as you don't appear to want it to be - the line and the rulings are both obvious and apparent.
Are you suggesting that I, as a clergyman, should be biased towards Israel?
Thanks for the comments - I read the publications of a number of groups regarding the Israel/Palestine situation and wonder if you're perhaps confusing the nation state of Israel (a largely secular body) with the Israel that is the people of God?
I suspect you may be and that you might be leaning towards an 'Israel, right or wrong, is always right' - Zionist approach, which sadly I would never be able to rake.
I go for national integrity and the 'What does the LORD demand' approach.
If there's no integrity how can YHWH be honoured or fail to act against same.
Thanks for the post - always good to dialogue (let's continue - and read back and you'll see more to probably wind you up too!0.
PAX
Vic, just quickly, I categorically don't take the approach that Israel can do no wrong.
What does concern me is that people expect standards of Israel that they wouldn't expect of any other country, including their own.
I'd also suggest Israel is somewhat more reluctant to respond that you suggest. How many thousands of rockets were fired, and for how long, before Operation Cast Lead was launched?
Are you arguing that a government shouldn't protect its citizens?
But I was also wondering which international laws Israel ignores...
Let's start with the ruling regarding the blockade of shipping in international waters of certified as 'safe' shipments to Palestine or the building of settlements - both of which have been cited in the press and elsewhere.
Or there's the shelling of the UNHCR establishment during the last 'conflict' - which received notice and placed Israel's allies in a bit of an embarrassing position as a result.
Like you, I don't expect Israel to be whiter than white or squeaky clean but as someone with who is military background, do expect LOAC and conventions to be complied with. Sadly, not always so.
So breaches of international law. We deal only with Israel here, but Palestinian are also guilty - but it's not tennis is it? You asked about Israel:
There's the ICJ (International Court of Justice ruling over Occupied Palestinian Territory (2004/28);
There's the breaking of the Oslo Declaration, of which in 1993 Israel was a signatory. Explicitly, Article 31, Clause 7, states: "Neither side shall initiate or take any step that will change the status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip pending the outcome of the permanent status negotiations."
This has obviously been broken and is therefore a breach of law which renders the actions illegal.
It has been upheld that the acts of 'settlement' is, and should be considered to be a breach of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva convention.
There's the fun reading of the shelling on the UN HQ in Gaza (Jan 2010).
And of course, a favourite of mine is the saga of Modecai Vanunu and if there's time, why not peruse http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,,ANNUALREPORT,ISR,,4c03a821c,0.html and read the report there too!
All grist to the mill - and remember I'm not defending Palestine, just pointing to the many areas that add together to make me concerned at the acts and worried at the way so many Christians will gloss over facts for a 'greater' cause.
Hope this helps,
V
Let's start with the ruling regarding the blockade of shipping in international waters of certified as 'safe' shipments to Palestine or the building of settlements - both of which have been cited in the press and elsewhere.
Or there's the shelling of the UNHCR establishment during the last 'conflict' - which received notice and placed Israel's allies in a bit of an embarrassing position as a result.
Like you, I don't expect Israel to be whiter than white or squeaky clean but as someone with who is military background, do expect LOAC and conventions to be complied with. Sadly, not always so.
So breaches of international law. We deal only with Israel here, but Palestinian are also guilty - but it's not tennis is it? You asked about Israel:
There's the ICJ (International Court of Justice ruling over Occupied Palestinian Territory (2004/28);
There's the breaking of the Oslo Declaration, of which in 1993 Israel was a signatory. Explicitly, Article 31, Clause 7, states: "Neither side shall initiate or take any step that will change the status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip pending the outcome of the permanent status negotiations."
This has obviously been broken and is therefore a breach of law which renders the actions illegal.
It has been upheld that the acts of 'settlement' is, and should be considered to be a breach of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva convention.
There's the fun reading of the shelling on the UN HQ in Gaza (Jan 2010).
And of course, a favourite of mine is the saga of Modecai Vanunu and if there's time, why not peruse http://bit.ly/cbxUM4 and read the report there too!
All grist to the mill - and remember I'm not defending Palestine, just pointing to the many areas that add together to make me concerned at the acts and worried at the way so many Christians will gloss over facts for a 'greater' cause.
Hope this helps,
V
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